light meaters

nathancombs · 06-12-2009, 02:39 PM

ok i LOVE hand heald light meaters and do not think they are out dated. i had one once but it met a bad end

and never got around replacing it GRRRRRR

now what i was thinking is i would LOVE to see Pentax do is put out a light meater that would read teast light that is made JUST for Pentax DSLRs.

they would have to be up gradable and maby store 4 cameras spects say you have a K10D and a K7 so that way the meater can be camera spcifick. there would be a down lode up date page to get the stuff you need.

*pingflood* · 06-12-2009, 03:12 PM

Well, light is light, what would make it K20D or K7 or whatever specific? A certain light level will yield an exposure like say 1/250 at f/8 no matter the camera....

*OregonJim* · 06-12-2009, 07:43 PM

What you're asking for is exactly opposite of what you want, IMO.

One advantage to a handheld light meter is that it is camera independent - as pingflood said, light is light. Some in-camera meters are better than others. Some underexpose, some overexpose, some are unpredictable. I assume this is what prompted your question. By using a single, calibrated, handheld meter, you eliminate all those variables and guesswork. It becomes especially important if you use more than one camera.

and · 06-12-2009, 09:17 PM

You can get the sekonic 758 which can be calibrated for each camera using a target and accompanying software and a usb connection.

You can store profiles for up to 3 cameras in the meter.

Sekonic L-758DR DIGITALMASTER

nathancombs · 06-13-2009, 12:39 AM

Originally Posted by OregonJim

What you're asking for is exactly opposite of what you want, IMO.

One advantage to a handheld light meter is that it is camera independent - as pingflood said, light is light. Some in-camera meters are better than others. Some underexpose, some overexpose, some are unpredictable. I assume this is what prompted your question. By using a single, calibrated, handheld meter, you eliminate all those variables and guesswork. It becomes especially important if you use more than one camera.

well not really yes it is independent, but the asa 100 film not quite the same as a digital asa 100.

then there is the diffidences between Nikon and Pentax ect..... both copneys probably set things differently and as tec changes there probably is a difference between a isd and a K7 for example. i was thinking it would make things MORE on the mark then just using an old light meater that was made for film.

now i know that there is not a lot of difference but it would it right on the spot.

nathancombs · 06-13-2009, 12:43 AM

Originally Posted by and

You can get the sekonic 758 which can be calibrated for each camera using a target and accompanying software and a usb connection.

You can store profiles for up to 3 cameras in the meter.

Sekonic L-758DR DIGITALMASTER

yea what i was thinking just a bit more advanced LOL and JUST for Pentax

and · 06-13-2009, 12:59 AM

Originally Posted by nathancombs

and JUST for Pentax

There is no benefit in having it made just for Pentax. You could say then it could have pre configured profiles for the cameras, but those would not be so useful, the reason the 758 has calibration is to make up for small differences between cameras of the same system. As shown in a luminous landscape video where they calibrated two canon 1Ds mkIII cameras for lightroom resulting in two different profiles even though the brand and model was the same.

I like things that are not brand specific, such as my light meter, I can use it for Pentax but I can also use it for my lx3 compact or for my dads canon, that makes it a better investment for me because I know that if I get a new camera or if I switch brands it will still work the same and I wont need to replace it.

Same thing goes for pocket wizard flash triggers

MPrince · 06-13-2009, 05:47 AM

I agree with pingflood. Light is light, and the best exposure for a given situation is not camera-dependent. In any event, as opposed to the best exposure, the "correct" exposure is determined by the photographer, not the equipment. The "correct" exposure is the one that helps the photographer create the mood he is after and captures the image as the photographer sees it in his head.

*pingflood* · 06-13-2009, 08:03 PM

Originally Posted by MPrince

I agree with pingflood. Light is light, and the best exposure for a given situation is not camera-dependent. In any event, as opposed to the best exposure, the "correct" exposure is determined by the photographer, not the equipment. The "correct" exposure is the one that helps the photographer create the mood he is after and captures the image as the photographer sees it in his head.

Well, I would say that the correct exposure is the one that gives you the right raw material to work with in creating the final image you saw. That's why Ansel Adams used the zone system; to get the best "raw" data for the final print. I like to think of the RAW captured by the camera as the undeveloped negative, and post processing as development and printing.